Politics, language and culture
South African politics, slang, folklore, books and sport.
South Africa, a political nation
Thanks to Sean Ross for this insightful look at the political upheavals currently underway in South Africa Change In South Africa: What does it mean?
South African Music Legend Miriam Makeba Dies
Among the Zulu people of South Africa, upon the death of a monarch, it would be said that the ‘Mountain has Fallen’.
South African Literature
Growing up I lived and breathed the work of South African writers like Stuart Cloete , who chronicled the history of white South Africa in factual novels that appealed very much to a child steeped in…
It's a win, win, win for the green and gold!
Wow, what a weekend! On Sunday the street were a-hush as people regrouped themselves after Saturday night's revelry.
Bok, Bokke, Bokkest
Rugby fever is building with huge anticipation for the World cup final on Saturday. We have already beaten England 36-0 in the opening rounds, so the odds are stacked against the defending champions.
You know you're South African when....: Facebook group
Facebook has really taken off in South Africa, in the same way that Brazil took to Orkut ..In droves.
South African slang; a comprehensive look.
I was about to try and compile a list of the extensive and mostly unintelligible slang used in South African "English", but the good folks over at wavescape have done such a good job that I needn't…
Southafricanisms: Perlemoen all'snot gold.
The Perlemoen is a large ear-shaped mollusc that grows in the shallow coastal waters of South Africa (and elsewhere also, but that doesn't matter).
Great times for convicted fraudster and Former chief whip of the ANC.
It seems that during a celebration thrown for his early (4 months of a 4 year sentence) release from jail, a cow and two sheep were slaughtered in a cleansing ceremony.
Eskom reactor "Trips" and issues national power alert.
We were welcomed to the day this morning with no electricity, thanks to the genius's at Eskom, having not planned for the amount of usuage.
ANC's Tony Yengeni released early from sham imprisonment.
Convicted fraudster and former chief whip of the ANC, Tony Yengeni, was released on Monday after serving only four months of a four year jail sentence.
Mayor Helen Zille, Still the Mayor of Cape Town: Phew!
A very tough few days for Mayor Helen Zille, the DA and the multiparty ruling structure of Cape Towns leadership.
567mw Cape Talk Radio: South African accent primer/desensitizer
If you are planning a trip to South Africa this summer/winter, you could do a lot worse than tune in to Cape Talk radio and get a feel for the hot topics affecting daily life here.
Brett Kebble saga- assisted suicide?
Brett Kebble is the mining magnate and general fat cat , that was shot dead in his car earlier this year.
What things cost in Cape Town, 1996 vs 2006
We arrived back in Cape Town, just over a year ago now and were in shock and awe at the inflation we found.
What's Happening in the Tri-Nations?
Your Correspondent has been gone for so long (OK, just a week), that he feels as though the Tri Nations should be over by now. And look - it is! To every South African's relief, no doubt.
August 9: Women's Day
Today, the 9th of August, is Women's Day , a public holiday in South Africa, observed to commemorate the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Get Caught in a (Friendly) March
Wanna catch some action in Cape Town? Just hang out for a few hours near the corner of Adderley and Longmarket Streets in the CBD ( map ), where, on any given day, odds are you'll play bystander to a…
Playing Football with the English Language: Car Parts or Come-Ons?
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around.
Cast the Last of the Proteas vs. Sri Lanka, Test One
Will South Africa's cricket side get an away-from-home win? It's not easy to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan haunts the wicket.
Cape Town's Rugby Museum Holds Vast Treasures
It's surprising how many tourists come to South Africa on a rugby footing. True, we're an on-again, off-again rugby world power , with a semi-glorious history (let's not forget that the Springboks,…
Springboks Escape Utter Humiliation This Time
South Africa's Springboks , last week's sorry excuse for a rugby team (they lost their first Tri Nations test match, against Australia, 49-0, in one of their worst defeats ever), magically morphed…
Playing Football with the English Language: "Ladies' Bar", "Action Bar"
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around. A South African walks into a bar ... ...and says - Ow!
There are Still a Few Man U - Chiefs Tickets Left
Tonight's clash between UK Prem giants Manchester United and SA Prem giants Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands , Cape Town, isn't completely sold out - there are still a number of tickets available at the…
Playing Football With the English Language: “Costume”, “Swimsuit”
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around.
Playing Football with the English Language: "T-shirt", "Sweater", "Jersey"
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around. It's winter in South Africa, brrr, what to wear?
Playing Football with the English Language: "Rubber"
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around.
Cape Town Big Six: Robben Island (5/6)
As a city, Cape Town’s known for its “Big Six” attractions - meet them all through SA Logue’s Cape Town Big Six tag!
Playing Football with the English Language: "Robot"
SA Loguers Ben and Trekker - respectively, an American in SA, and a South African in the US - are kicking the English language around. The robot is red. The robot is yellow. The robot is green.
June 16: Youth Day
Today, the 16th of June, is Youth Day , a public holiday in South Africa, observed to commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprisings.
Easy Afrikaans: Saying "Hello"
To many English-speakers' ears, Afrikaans sounds a lot like German , or a cross between German and Dutch.
Rand in Significant Slide
Alert! In the past several weeks, South Africa's currency, the rand , has depreciated to a fairly significant extent, sliding from R5.90 to the dollar to R6.50.
What is the Bo-Kaap?
Shane asks , What is the Bo-Kaap? The Bo-Kaap is a neighborhood of Cape Town directly west of the CBD, bounded by Strand Street to the north, Buitengracht Street to the east, and Carisbrook Street to…
Gold Tops $700
The price of gold - a South African economic bellwether since the late 1800s - has breached the $700/ounce mark for the first time in decades, staking out yet more pasture for local business bulls to…
South Africa's Constitution Turns 10 Today
Ten years ago today, South Africa's new constitution was adopted in the Constitutional Assembly, and seven months later signed into law - and SA Blog was there!
Money in South Africa
Meet the South African currency - the rand ! It's symbolized with a capital "R", or the letters "ZAR", and is denominated into notes - R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 - which feature Africa's Big Five…
27 April - Freedom Day
Today, 27 April, is Freedom Day in South Africa - the equivalent of Independence Day in the US or Bastille Day in France (but peaceful-like) - when South Africans celebrate the country's first…
South Africa's Cricketers Win a Test!
By golly, they've done it! South Africa's national cricket side, known as the Proteas, have won a bona fide-five day test - for the first time in the long and soon-to-be-finished season - and against…
Local's View: Judge Dennis Davis
Spotted! Judge Dennis Davis Where? Cape Town Dennis Davis Loving SA yet? Yes! Why?
Local's View: Rhoda Kadalie
Spotted! Rhoda Kadalie Where? Cape Town Rhoda Kadalie Loving SA yet? On the Fence! Why?
Good Friday in South Africa
Today is Good Friday , a significant day on the Christian calendar, and a public holiday in South Africa - the beginning of the longest of this country's famous long weekends .
Chag Sameach! Passover in South Africa
Chag sameach! Today is Passover , a commemoration of the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
South Africa vs. New Zealand: Cricket Schedule
Their subjugation to the Australians in test cricket complete (SA suffered a 3-nil whitewash during the Aussies' recent visit here, though we won the ODI series in spectacular fashion ) the Proteas…
Buying Property in South Africa
The South African property market has boomed for the last five years, and, despite property slowdowns in other parts of the world, looks set to keep up its good steam until the 2010 World Cup .
Easy Zulu: Saying "Hello"
Zulu is South Africa's most widely-spoken language, and serves as a lingua franca throughout the southern Africa region.
Mar 21 - Human Rights Day
Today is Human Rights Day, when South Africans commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre , in which more than 60 people were slaughtered by the apartheid security police during a protest against the…
South African Cricketers in Miracle Win
South African cricket fans stampeded to the newsstands this morning, seeking assurance that it wasn't all just a dream.
SA Blog Told You So! Election Bluster Shamefulness
Not two weeks ago, SA Blog made bold to say that the official recommendation by a group of puffed-up committee hacks to place an immediate moratorium on the purchase of land by foreigners was mere…
Cape Town Power Outage: Tonight's Rugby "Guaranteed"
The Super 14 match to be played in Cape Town this evening - between the city's own Stormers and the Otago Highlanders from New Zealand - has been "guaranteed" lights from the various people who can…
Cape Town Power Outage: Tonight's Cricket "Guaranteed"
Today's cricket match between South Africa's Proteas and the Australians - an ODI day-nighter - won't be interrupted by the rolling blackouts that have brought chaos to Cape Town in recent weeks.
Electricity & Election Wrap
South Africa's 2006 municipal elections are over, with voting having gone smoothly throughout the country, for the most part.
Happy Voting Day! Vote Doggy!
Today, March 1, is a special public holiday in South Africa: Voting Day! Millions will go to the polls to decide who will govern them at municipal level for the next five years.
South Africa vs. Australia: Cricket Schedule
After taking a walloping Down Under during their recent tour there, South Africa's cricketers get another chance to challenge Australian dominance , in the home test, ODI and Pro20 series, which kick…
Proposed Moratorium on Land Ownership: Election Bluster Alert
South Africa's Minister for Land Affairs , Thoko Didiza, was handed a long-awaited report today on foreign land ownership in South Africa.
Know Your SA Political Parties (part 5/5): the African National Congress
On 1 March, South Africa will hold local government elections, which will determine who will run our cities and towns for the next 5 years.
Know Your SA Political Parties (part 4/5): the Democratic Alliance
On 1 March, South Africa will hold local government elections, which will determine who will run our cities and towns for the next 5 years.
Know Your SA Political Parties (part 3/5): Inkatha
In March, South Africa will hold local government elections, which will determine who will run our cities and towns for the next 5 years.
Know Your SA Political Parties (part 2/5): The Independent Democrats
On 1 March, South Africa will hold local government elections, which will determine who will run our cities and towns for the next 5 years.
Know Your SA Political Parties (part 1/5): the Freedom Front
On 1 March, South Africa will hold its local government elections , which will determine who will run our cities and towns for the next 5 years.
State of the Nation Address Today
South Africa's Parliament holds a joint sitting today, of the National Assembly (where laws are made) and the National Council of Provinces (where old politicians are mothballed, and young ones shoot…
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Breaches 20,000
South Africa's decade-long bull run showed continued stamina yesterday, as the JSE snorted to a record 20,000 points.
South Africa's Fairly Dismal Sporting Weekend
The Women's World Cup of Golf ( Home - Final Standings ) provided an ounce of satisfaction for SA sports fans this weekend, who were otherwise pounded with dismal showings in football and cricket.
Live Cricket: Follow South Africa vs. Australia NOW!
Australia posted 245 all out in the ODI currently being played at the MCG, with a run rate of 4.9.
Annika Sorenstam Set to Storm Sun City at Women's World Cup of Golf
A bevy of the world's best women golfers has arrived in South Africa, to contest the $1.1 million Women's World Cup of Golf , played over the next three days at the par 72 Gary Player Country Club at…
Blood Donation Controversy Boils Over Again
Blood donation is one of the more lively topics of conversation in South Africa. One's plasma and platelets, quite naturally, are closely linked to one's wider group identity - and when the blood of…
Easy Xhosa: Saying "Goodbye"
Here's the second post in SA Blog's series of click-free Xhosa lessons. Click free? Yes, and it has nothing to do with your mouse, or your on-screen pointer.